Full Family Growth: How To Rebuild Your Family Past Struggles

Have you ever been in the middle of a family conflict and thought to yourself: “This feels familiar.”? Families spend a lot of time together, and as a result, know each other well. And while that can be a positive thing, on the other hand, that person who knows you well, also knows exactly how to push your buttons. We get caught in negative patterns and find ourselves repeating the same situation over and over again. No family is perfect and we all have our conflicts and struggles. The question is: how does a family move past their issues? 

Addressing Family Issues

Changing your patterns may be challenging, but it’s not impossible. The first step is to be aware of familiar triggers. Maybe you know that dad’s old “joke” about how your son always sleeps in to avoid interacting with the family, actually hurts your son’s feelings. He becomes defensive and the two of them begin arguing. If you know how the scenario is going to play out, try changing the dialogue. Talk to family members about changing their behaviors and trying to remove the trigger. 

The next step is understanding the “roles” each family member plays. Is one child seen as the instigator and the other the victim? Can you remove those labels and try to see the situation with fresh eyes? By moving past these roles, we can begin to remove the subconscious expectations we may have of our family members. Everyone needs to be willing to take responsibility for their actions as they work to respond rather than react to family conflict. 

For families who are struggling with moving past their issues, a wilderness therapy program for teens can help. Often there is blame, guilt, and frustration in the family dynamic that serves as a catalyst for negative behavior. A wilderness therapy program with a family therapy element can help break the cycle and create a path towards healthier, happier relationships. Focusing on the family “system” is crucial to changing habits and behaviors for the better. Teens who experience growth in a wilderness therapy program will benefit from family involvement in their treatment as they learn to create new dynamics and routines. 

Trails Carolina Can Help

At Trails Carolina, our wilderness therapy program’s mission is to give your child the confidence, coping mechanisms, and communication skills that will help them become the best version of themselves. Throughout our wilderness program, families restore and rebuild their relationship with their child.

We believe that by connecting with nature in a wilderness therapy setting, your child can learn to address their problematic behaviors, gain valuable personal insights, and learn important lessons. Free from the distractions and negative influences of everyday life, they can focus on their own personal growth and healing process.

Our multidisciplinary team of caring, expert staff will be there to guide your child along their unique path to psychological and emotional wellness. This journey can lead to a renewed sense of self and a happier, healthier future brimming with opportunity. For more information please call (828) 475-8962.